The Martin Buber Society of Fellows aims at fostering interdisciplinary academic discourse at the highest level among outstanding young scholars (post-doctoral). Candidates who have completed their PhD at an Israeli or German university, as well as citizens of Israel or Germany who have received their PhD in any country, are eligible to apply. Applicants must have their PhD degree in hand no earlier than October 1st, 2020, and no later than July 1st, 2025.1 Application is open for those specializing in all fields of the Humanities and the Social Sciences.2 We are looking for creative humanists and social scientists with broad intellectual horizons. No connection of the subject matter to Jewish studies or Israel is required.
This year the Academic Committee of the Martin Buber Society of Fellows will select up to eight exceptionally gifted young scholars (up to four from Israel and four from Germany). Fellows receive a monthly stipend of approximately 9000 NIS. They are expected to be in residence and asked to spend at least 4 days a week at the office. The fellows are also encouraged to move to Jerusalem, and those who do receive an additional housing subsidy that can be used either for apartments in the university’s Student Village (on campus) or to help with rental costs elsewhere in town. Non-Israeli fellows who move to Jerusalem with their family are eligible for additional support.
Fellows have the opportunity to pursue their individual research under optimal conditions for the term of their fellowship and are expected to become part of the vibrant scholarly community in Jerusalem, reflecting the widest possible disciplinary spectrum in the Humanities and the Social Sciences and embodying a spirit of shared intellectual adventure. They are obliged to participate in biweekly colloquia, workshops, lectures, study excursions, and other cultural and academic activities of the MBSF. Discussions in the Martin Buber Society take place in English (not in Hebrew or German).
Scholarships are granted for a maximum of four years, beginning October 1, 2025 (subject to review at the end of each year), on the basis of a detailed proposal of a research project of major scope and innovative character. Indeed, an imaginative proposal (no longer than 5 pages) that proves the applicant’s ability to carry out cutting-edge research in her or his field is the most important part of the application.
The deadline for applications for 2025-2026 is September 18, 2024. The Academic Committee of the Martin Buber Society will meet during February 2025 to choose the new cohort of fellows. Outstanding candidates will be invited for an interview beforehand.
The application process is simple (a CV and a list of publications, a 1-page abstract of the PhD, a research proposal of 5 pages, and two recommendation letters) and begins with registration at http://scholarships.huji.ac.il; the entire process of registration and application is done online through this link.
It is crucial to read the instructions on the website before starting the application process (which is entirely online).
The MBSF is committed to diversity and equal opportunity and encourages applicants from all backgrounds and communities to apply.
The Martin Buber Society of Fellows, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Mandel Building, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem.
For further information about the Martin Buber Society of Fellows, for application timeline and frequently asked questions please check our website http://buberfellows.huji.ac.il/
For further inquiries please contact Ms. Yael Baron at buber.fellows@mail.huji.ac.il
Tel. 00972 (0)2-5883901.
Brochure in german language download
PDF VERSION DOWNLOAD
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1 For German institutions, the day of the disputation is the decisive date; for Israeli institutions, the date on the official letter of approval of the dissertation from the degree-granting university. Applicants with children under the age of five (at the time of the September 18 deadline) get an extra year and may apply if they have their PhD no earlier than October 1st 2019.
2 Applications that are purely technical in nature, such as in the fields of applied economics or practical law, will be not be considered.